ICSA suckler chairman Dermot Kelleher has questioned the response of the Irish Government and the EU to the UN International Year of Family Farming.

“Is there any one constructive action that the EU and the Irish government have taken that will actually benefit the ordinary farming family?” he asked.

“One of the key objectives of the UN International Year of Family Farming is to support the development of policies conducive to sustainable family farming. What has been done in this regard? Minister Coveney has overseen a sustained period of low beef prices which are going to put many families in the suckler sector out of business.

“Celebrating and creating awareness around family farming is all well and good, but particularly in the drystock sector, there won’t be many farming families left to celebrate unless action is taken on the beef crisis. More support for live exports, the removal of proposed weight limits of 380kg for quality continental suckler herd bulls and the development of a strategy for viable prices up to 450kg are vital for the survival of the family suckler farm. All the awards, prizes and conferences in the world won’t solve these issues.”

Teagasc, as part of its celebration of the FAO International Year of Family Farming, have created a series of videos on individual family farms.